There’s no way of knowing exactly when your dog or cat might become ill or have an accident. That uncertainty is one of the main reasons people choose pet insurance.
You can take out insurance at different stages of your pet’s life, but there can be advantages to arranging cover while your pet is young and healthy – before illnesses, injuries or symptoms have developed.
That’s because pet insurance is generally designed to protect against new and unexpected conditions, rather than health problems that existed before your cover began.
So, when is the right time to get pet insurance?
Should I insure my pet when they’re young?
Taking out pet insurance when your dog or cat is young is worth considering.
Young pets can still become ill or have accidents, and starting insurance earlier means you can have protection in place before many health conditions have had an opportunity to develop.
This can be particularly important when it comes to pre-existing conditions.
Scratch & Patch policies don’t cover pre-existing conditions. If your pet develops an illness, injury, sign or symptom before their cover begins, it may therefore be excluded from future claims.
Getting insurance earlier doesn’t guarantee that every future condition will be covered, but it can reduce the likelihood of your pet already having medical conditions that are excluded when you first take out the policy.
Related guide: What is a pre-existing condition in pet insurance?
When should I insure a new puppy or kitten?
Bringing home a new puppy or kitten is a natural time to think about insurance.
Although they’re young, puppies and kittens can still experience unexpected illnesses and injuries. They’re also entering a period of new experiences – exploring their surroundings, meeting other animals and generally discovering what they should and shouldn’t be doing!
Having insurance in place early means you’ve considered how you’d manage eligible unexpected veterinary costs before they’re needed.
Remember that insurance is separate from routine preventative healthcare such as vaccinations, flea and worm treatments and routine check-ups, which aren’t what pet insurance is primarily designed to cover.
Should I wait until my pet becomes ill?
Waiting until your pet develops a health problem before buying insurance can be problematic.
Insurance isn’t designed to be purchased retrospectively to cover something that has already happened.
If your pet has already developed an illness or injury, or shown signs or symptoms of a condition, taking out a new policy afterwards won’t make that existing condition eligible for cover with Scratch & Patch.
You may still be able to insure your pet against eligible new and unrelated illnesses or injuries, but the existing condition will not be covered.
That’s why it’s worth thinking about insurance before you need to use it, rather than after a veterinary problem arises.
What if my pet is already an adult?
It’s never too late to consider pet insurance just because your pet is no longer a puppy or kitten.
Adult dogs and cats can still benefit from protection against eligible new illnesses and injuries.
However, your pet’s previous medical history becomes increasingly important. Any pre-existing conditions will need to be considered when understanding what a new policy will and won’t cover.
Your pet’s age can also influence the cost of insurance and the excess or other terms that apply, so check the details of the policy you’re considering.
What about older pets?
Older pets can still experience new illnesses and injuries for which insurance may provide valuable protection.
However, as pets age, they’re more likely to have an existing medical history. This means there may be more conditions that are considered pre-existing when starting a new policy.
The cost of insurance can also increase as your pet gets older, reflecting the changing likelihood and potential cost of veterinary treatment.
When considering insurance for an older pet, look carefully at the premium, cover type, vet fee limit, excess, co-payment, inner limits and exclusions rather than considering age or price in isolation.
When does my pet insurance cover actually start?
Buying pet insurance doesn’t necessarily mean your pet is immediately covered for every new illness or accident.
Policies can include waiting periods at the start of cover.
With Scratch & Patch, standard waiting periods are 48 hours for accidents and 14 days for illnesses, subject to the terms of your policy.
This means an accident or illness occurring within the applicable waiting period may not be covered.
Waiting periods are another reason not to wait until you think your pet may need veterinary treatment before arranging insurance.
What if I’m switching from another pet insurer?
If your pet is already insured, you may be considering changing provider rather than taking out insurance for the first time.
Be mindful of your pet’s existing medical history when doing this.
A condition covered by your current insurer could potentially become a pre-existing condition under your new policy and no longer be covered.
Where you’re transferring directly to Scratch & Patch from another insurer without a break in cover, our standard waiting periods don’t apply to new conditions, subject to the applicable policy terms. Pre-existing conditions remain excluded.
Related guide: Can I switch pet insurance?
Does the type of cover I choose matter?
When you arrange insurance is important, but so is what you choose to insure your pet with.
Different types of pet insurance provide different levels and durations of protection.
For example, Lifetime cover can provide ongoing protection for eligible conditions, with the vet fee allowance refreshing each policy year while continuous cover is maintained.
Maximum Benefit, Time Limited, and Accident Only policies work differently.
Think about the level of financial protection you’d want if your pet required not just one visit to the vet, but potentially expensive or ongoing treatment.
Related guides: What type of pet insurance is right for me? | How much pet insurance cover do I need?
What should I consider before taking out pet insurance?
Before buying a policy, consider:
- Your pet’s current health and medical history
- The type of protection you want
- How much vet fee cover you need
- What you can comfortably afford to pay for insurance
- Your excess and any co-payment
- Inner limits and exclusions
- Any waiting periods before cover begins
It’s also important to read the policy information carefully so you understand what is and isn’t covered.
So, when is the best time to get pet insurance?
There isn’t one perfect age or moment that applies to every pet.
However, if you know you want the financial protection pet insurance can provide, there can be advantages to arranging it before your pet develops illnesses, injuries or symptoms that could subsequently be considered pre-existing.
The key is not to think of insurance as something to arrange once you know veterinary treatment is needed.
Instead, it’s protection you put in place for the unexpected things that could happen in the future.
Getting covered with Scratch & Patch
Scratch & Patch offers Lifetime, Maximum Benefit, Time Limited and Accident Only pet insurance, with different vet fee limits available to help you choose protection that suits your needs and budget.
Our policies don’t cover pre-existing conditions, and waiting periods and other terms apply, so it’s important to understand your cover before buying.
Whether you’ve just welcomed home a puppy or kitten or you’re considering insurance for an older pet, think about the protection you’d want before you need to make a claim.
Explore our cover | Get a pet insurance quote
